Thanks go to Merial for sponsoring the Cattle Industry Convention media room once again. The media room “officially” opens tomorrow morning but somebody had to be first in. That would probably be Grace Webb who has already stocked the bowls on the tables with chocolate.
The action really gets going tomorrow and picks up on Wed. I’ll be here all week doing some Beef Board Blogging so you’ll be seeing a lot of posts from the world of agribusiness.
We’re having a great time here in Houston at the Ag Associates Conference. So much so that it was hard to get everyone to take a break and have lunch! Last night, Lynn Balinas, the President of the Hondo Group, celebrated his birthday with the entire StollerUSA team. His team Patricia Lawson and Brenda Gilbertson, the PR gurus who are helping StollerUSA get the word out about its great yield enhancing projects, took a minute to say happy birthday as did a few others.
Don’t forget to follow the conference right here on AgWired.com. Dozens of people are sharing their research about the success they are having with all the Stoller products. I also had the chance, along with several other reporters, to spend some time alone with Stoller CEO and Founder, Jerry Stoller.
Farmers haven’t been trained to listen to their plants. But for Jerry Stoller, CEO of StollerUSA, that is what his company does best. In some circles, you could even call him the “plant whisperer.” While having breakfast with Jerry this morning, he taught a group of journalists how to listen and what we heard is….”epigenetics.” “This is going to be exciting,” he enthused.
According to Jerry, epigenetics is the study of how you enhance DNA in crops that are already there. Currently, he noted, 75 percent of all DNA in a plant is wasted. So let’s delve deeper into how exactly epigenetics is a breakthrough for agriculture. To simplify the science, a change in the plants gene structure occurs without changing the underlying DNA. What scientists are discovering is that when these genes are changed, the “mother” will pass the gene off to her offspring. This is a big deal because the plant has the potential of an exponential yield advantage.
Speaking of yield enhancements, Jerry discussed three that they’re working on.
According to Jerry, here are three of the most important things for us to learn. “Can we teach the plant to use nitrogen more effectively so that we can use less nitrogen? Can we teach the plant to become more disease resistant so we don’t have to use as much fertilizer? Can we teach the soybean plant to use nitrogen more effectively so that the nodules don’t go to sleep?”
Ultimately discovering the answers for this is threefold: 1) they will improve sustainability; 2) they will improve the yield per 
acre; and 3) they will improve the farmer’s profitability at the same time he is becoming even more sustainable in his practices.
StollerUSA is dedicated to this very research but there is a challenge for the company to keep moving forward. “One of our biggest challenges is raising the capital to continue the research. However, no matter what, the research will continue both in the traditional sense and in a unique way: “We work backwards. We work from the fields to the lab,” said Jerry.
That is why the Ag Associates Conference is so important to the company. This is the meeting that helps to focus their research based on what is happening in farmers’ fields around the world.
AGCO is providing a great example of how to integrate social media and networking into their communications strategy and to learn more about what they’re doing I spoke with Sue Otten, Director, Corporate Communications & Brand Communications Worldwide. In our conversation we talk about why the company has invested in very active social communications channels. Sue says that it’s a great way to “learn” from their customers and target a new demographic too.
As you can see in this image from their homepage they’ve put the spotlight on their Facebook page where you can see photos and video from their participation in AG CONNECT Expo. They’re working consistently to create online content relevant to their products and their customers.
One of the recommendations Sue makes is to not be afraid to get started with social media. She says that there are some great consultants out there who can help you too. I’ll use this opportunity to make a little plug for Todd Lohenry with e1evation, Inc. who has worked with AGCO.
Thanks to new AgWired Sponsor, Novus International, for their support of the ZimmCast.
You can listen to this week’s ZimmCast below.
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I spent the evening getting a preview of the research that is going to be presented tomorrow in Houston during the 17th annual Ag Associates Conference. I chatted with people from all over the world including Canada, Australia, Jamaica, Trinidad, North Korea, Cameroon, and more. One of the things I found most fascinating was to hear about the diversity of crops that have seen yield increases using Bio-Forge as well as X-Tra Power and Sugar Mover.
I spoke to dealers and growers who have seen great success using StollerUSA 
products on potatoes, corn, soybeans, table grapes (an Australian specialty according to my new “bloke” Shane) wheat, and various fruits and vegetables. I listened to many of the growers not only talk about what’s working but about what’s not and other growers who have had similar successes or issues in their fields, share tips that have helped them. Ultimately, the goal of this conference is to bring products to market that will help growers see yield increases and ultimately higher profits.
I barely got a sample of what I’ll be learning about tomorrow but from the initial reports, it’s going to be exciting. I’ll be blogging during the conference tomorrow right here on AgWired.com and continuing coverage throughout the week. In addition, you can follow the conference on StollerUSA’s website, www. StollerUSA.com.
You can also check out what’s going on during the conference in the Ag Associates Conference Flickr Album.
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games is picking up more sponsors and the latest is MFA Incorporated in Missouri. The announcement was made this evening at the Missouri Equine Council Annual Celebration at the Boone County Fairgrounds.
On hand for the presentation were Alltech’s Tyler Bramble (r) and Dr. Alan Wessler, MFA Inc. MFA is an official animal health and nutrition partner for the games. They join more than 60 other organizations who have also partnered with Alltech for this first time competition in the United States. The games will be held in Kentucky from Sept. 25 to October 10.
I talked to both Tyler and Alan about their partnership and what it means to each company this evening.
You can listen to or download my interview with Tyler here: alltech-mfa-bramble.mp3 mp3 file
You can listen to or download my interview with Alan here: alltech-mfa-wessler.mp3 mp3 file
I’m packing my bags for Houston as I get ready to head to the U.S. Ag Associates Conference. I’m a kind of a self-proclaimed geek so I’m really excited to hear the research presentations from professors, consultants, growers, and StollerUSA group representatives.
The conference began 17 years ago as a gathering of seven people, mostly consultants, whose goal was to enlist a group of people who were doing different things in the field and were willing to share their results. People went home, tested out a few things on their farm, or went back to the lab to conduct more research and field tests and came back the next year to give updates. Eventually, 
this became a gathering of the minds with more than 100 people from around the world coming to share their advancements in ag. As neat as this is, there is just one catch. You can attend for one year as an observer, but if you want to come back the next (and everyone does) then you have to give an update on something that you have done.
I will be blogging from the conference beginning tomorrow evening here on AgWired, and complements of StollerUSA, there will also be day-to-day conference coverage on their website at www.stollerusa.com. Oh, and I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag but there will be a big announcement made during the conference this week so check back often – you’ll not want to miss it!
It’s time once again for the Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show and I’ll be Beef Board Blogging again. It’s hard to believe but this will be my 5th year of blogging for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. Wow.
Of course I’ll be providing coverage of the convention right here on AgWired and with support from new sponsor Novus International.
So while Cindy is in Atlanta at the International Poultry Expo and Joanna is in Houston for the U.S. Ag Associates Conference I get to go to San Antonio. Looking at the current midwest weather forecast I’m glad I’m going south.
I’ll be heading that way on Monday and should have coverage start on Tuesday.
The nation’s peanut industry is helping out the relief effort in Haiti by donating high protein peanut butter and you can support that effort with your own donations. Peanut butter is especially good for emergency situations like this because it’s a great source of nourishment that needs no refrigeration.
The peanut industry has already donated $108,500 in contributions and four truckloads of peanut butter have been shipped so far totaling nearly three million servings. The peanut butter is being delivered to families in Haiti through Operation Blessing, Catholic Relief Services and Food for the Poor.
Donations can be sent to: EC 2055 – PB for Haiti P.O. Box 725 Blakely, GA 39823
Make checks payable to Early County 2055 and note on check: PB for Haiti. All donations are tax deductible and you will receive a letter acknowledging the donation.
Find out more on-line here from the Georgia Peanut Commission.
